Hi Jan,

I will be the very first to admit that there are judges with a color bias and this is not a new practice by any stretch. It is very obvious when a judge decides that your dog isn't under consideration because of color and I will be the first person to admit that it offends me greatly when it happens.

The point that I am trying to make is that when a dog isn't awarded on any given day, it is not ALWAYS because they are solid liver. Having spoken to many, many judges in more recent years about coloration I have been surprised to have been told some very eye-opening comments.

I have actually had many judges tell me that years ago, most solid livers were really lacking in overall quality( poor bone, bad coat, coarse shoulders and the list goes on)  and that they in all honesty, just couldn't place them in good conscience.  And in looking back through old photos from waaaaay back when, I can see some of the characteristics that they obviously didn't like and care to reward. That is not to say that all solid livers were bad dogs because obviously they were not.

 

In more recent years I have also had judges approach me and tell me that the overall quality is so far above what it used to be that they have no reservations about awarding points to a solid liver dog or bitch. I along with a few other breeders who have produced some exceptional solid livers have been openly told that they never took liver seriously but.........they do now. And the numbers seem to attest to that.

Frankly we have absolutely no problem in exhibiting solid livers or attaining championships on them. I do not say this to be arrogant but I do admit that I do not feel that we breed mediocre solid livers and we are extremely proud of those that we have bred and titled as well as a few *top producers* who were never champions themselves but proved their value in our breeding program. And we have people who come to us specifically for solid liver coloration now and that wasn't the case even 10 years ago. People are beginning to realize that they can win and they do and they are much more willing to opening their breeding programs to this color than ever before.

 

When Tina Craig was showing Crayola as a class bitch, she actually had judges say that "I've never put up solid liver before but I couldn't deny her". She had many wins under judges who had never done anything for solid liver GSPs.  And there are other breeders who are breeding and showing lovely solid liver dogs and bitches that DO conform to the standard and they do win. I just happen to believe that if you work hard and long and you produce great solid liver dogs, you will be rewarded for it. And that isn't to say that you won't lose to those few judges who cannot get past color. It does happen but it isn't anywhere near as bad as it was 20 years ago. Just ask Jim and June Burns, Marcy Desmond, Barb Booher and Betsy Yates, Paul & Eleanor Fairchild, Betty Sandberg and the others who bred them and exhibited them. 

 

In giving the breed seminars my favorite saying that I repeat to all of those judges attending ( and so does Betsy Yates, who heads up Judge's Ed)  is that "You DON'T necessarily have to like solid liver German Shorthairs. It may not be your personal preference at all. You don't have to take it home, feed it and love it and keep it. You DO have to judge it fairly and equally and realize that if on that day...... it is the best dog in your ring that conforms to the breed standard, then you cannot deny it based on color alone and you reward it accordingly".

 

And please let me say that I do sincerely appreciate all of the comments and the discussion on this topic and by no means do I dismiss anyone's feelings. I respect everyone's opinion on the matter and have welcomed varying thoughts and points of view.

 

Sharon

 

Sorry for the messy reply.  I was on a new lap top and I just can't type on the thing.  I have to find out how to set it up with spell check asap!